Automatic firearm.



No. l785,085. PATBNTBD MAR. 21, 1905.

H. O. BURTON, ADMINISTRATOR.

AUTOMATIC FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.16. 190s.

kmmmm lil- HU Patented March 21, 190%.

i BnTH'iLL BURTON,

AnMiNis'rRATon OIF BltOGKIZ'N.y NEW YORK; HENRY C. BURTON F SAID BETHEL BURTON, Dncnrisnnfif auroras-rie marianna.'

SPECIFICATION frmng pa@ 0f Letters Patent No, 785,085,"datd Mardi 21, 1905i.v

Application led January 1-6, 1903.1 Serial lio. 139,277.

.To t/Z whom it may concern:

Beit known thatLBE'r BURToN',acitizen of the United States,'residing in Brooklymin the county of' Kings and Stateof New York; have invented certain ments in Firearms, of which the following is a specification. y

This invention relates to that class of magazine-firearms in which the reaction -or recoil of the exploding cartridge is utilized to push l The i presentimprovements also include as one of its features a lever mechanism for faof its actuating spring opposition 'to the force charge the or springs when it is desired to magazine of the firearm.

A firearm constructed in accordance with the present improvements also embodies a de vice for positively locking at will the firingpin in its cocked position, together with certain other details of construction and organization, all of which, in addition to those hereinbefore specifically referred to, are set forth in the accompanying drawings, in Which-- Figure l lis a side elevation of a firearm embodying the present improvements with a part of the barrel and the handle or grip thereof broken away. Fig. a portion of the firearm illustrated in Fig. 1. Figs. Sand i-are longitudinal sectional views, the former ligure illustrating the position' of the parts after thebolt has been thrown foi ward anda cartridge forced into the barrel of the firearm and exploded, While the latter figure shows the yposition of the parts upon the Withdrawal of the bolt by the recoil of the may be forced into determining the backward or with--v cilitating the manual retraction of the bolt in` 2 is a top or plan view-of'v new and useful Improve-l l l l exploded cartridge,

within thev and iooking from lright to left, certain 'cation as applied to, vsame are applicable to rifies and firearms genfanee with my present improvements l 5 thereof by some suitable 'methoden process of the frame isa iange,

the remainder ofY the shell of this latter being shown-in a position in which it has kbeen forced out of the barrel and is vbeing ejected. Fig-5 is a in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a similar View taken yJust frame in front of the cartridges parts beyond the plane of the section being omitted. "Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all figures.

The present improvements are disclosed .in 6oI the drawings attached to the present specifi a pistol, (although the eraliy,) the barrel 2 of which is screw-threaded to engage with'abossor of the firearm, whiie the grip or'handle thereof is designated by e.. I Y

in the inanufaeturepof a irearm'in accordn prefer to form'jhe frame 'te constitute a block having within the same one` cavities for the reception ofthe cartridges and the various'o'perative parts and of a desired conformation.

such as.' vAfter the various parts have been assembled they may oe secured in place Aby 'side plate 7 affixed to the frame by means such as screws 8. n a guide-openingQ of' the frame is mounted a reciprocative bolt or breechblock 10, movable -to and fro in line with the axis of the barrel vand urged forwardly by a spring, such as 11. One of' the principal features of' the present improvements relates to the provision of a fixed stop for determining the extreme rearward position of the bolt, and thereby preventing too of the actuatingfspring -11 under the reactive forces of the exploding cartridgethat is, the extent or amount to which such spring may be shortened by compression.. This vstop is in the nature of an abutment 12, having a threaded engagement with the frame at the end of the guide`passage 9 and against which one end of the'spring .1i abuts.` The coperative face upon the bolt adapted to engage head 3.0i the frame or. more recesses or cross-sectional'view onthe line 5 5 Aroundv the outer boundary great a compression y face of the former.|

l to impair its continued satisfactory working.

Mounted to slide longitudinally in an opening in the stop 12 and in an alined opening in the bolt is a firing-pin 54:, encircled by its actuating-spring 14, interposed between the aforesaid stop 12 'and a collar 15 on the pin, the spring being of a sufcient external diameter` to permit it to Work within the inclosing bolt-actuating spring 11. The extreme forward position of the firing-pin (relatively to th'e bolt) under the4 tension of its actuating-spring is determined by the contact of its collar 15 with the bottom of the axial Exteriorly of the stop recess 13 of the bolt. 12 a head lis secured to the firing-pin, this head being adapted to cooperate with a sear in a manner that will be presently adverted to.

Referring now to the means for manually 'drawing the bolt backward from the end of" the barrel when itis desired to charge the magazine, a hand-lever 17 is mounted exte-y riorly of the frame, theq same being provided with afiuger-piece or handle 18 and serving to rotate a pinionV 19, journa'led in thev side portions of the frame and engaging with a rack 20, formed on the lower face of the bolt and sliding t'o andv fro in a groove 21 of the frame. Although the lever 17 serves to actuate the pinion 19, the shafts of the two are not permanently secured together; but motion is communicated from the shaft 22 of the lever to the shaft 23 of the pinion through the medium of a pair'of lugs, one lug, 24, being xed relatively to the lever 17 and another lug, 25, extending from the radial face of the pinion across the path of movement of the former. The shafts of the lever and pinion may be mounted in any proper way in the frame. Suiiice it here to say that the shaft of the pinion may be provided with an annular recess, into which extends a keeper 26, affixed to the frame. The lugs 24 and 25 are so related to each other and the diameter of the pinion 21 is such that ythe rotation of the handle 17 in aV counter-clockwise direction in Fig. 1 to an extent less than a full rotation will accomplish the full backward movement of the bolt, and when the bolt is in this retracted position an opening is exposed for the insertion of cartridges intol the` magazine. 1n-order to positively retain the bolt in its withdrawn position after rotatir. 9 the handle 17, there is pro-A vided a spring-actuated pin 27, adapted to en-l ter an opening 28 in the side plate 701c the frame. This spring-pressedpinmay be w ith- Vdrawn toffee thelever by afinger-piece' 29. Directly below the .opening made by the with-' drawn bolt is a space designed to receive the cartridges and constituting the magazinechamber of the firearm. The width of this space measured transversely of the frame is somewhat less than the sum of the diameters of two cartridges, and hence when the magazine is charged the cartridges will assume a staggered arrangement, it being designed in the dischargev of the firearm that the cartridges shall ascend and bepushed forward into the barrel alternately from the opposite sides of the magazine-chamber. The dimensions of this chamber measured lengthwise of the cartridges therein is substantially equal to the longitudinally over-all measurement of the cartridges. the bullet-heads of the latter sliding along the front portion of' the ilange -6 of the .frame and the flanged ends of the cartridge-shells sliding along a pair of upright strips 30 30, attached to the opposite ,-side plates of the frame, leaving a suiiicient space between their longitudinal edges for the movement of an elevating-arm 31, fulcrumed to a cross-pin 32 and pressed upward by a spring 33, secured at one end to the frame and at the opposite end bearing against such arm. The cartridges rest upon the carrier 34, to lugs 35 of which the elevating-arm 31 is pivoted by a pin, such as 36. This carrier-plate is preferably channeled or grooved to form a proper seat for the lowermost cartridges at opposite sides of' the magazinechamber, and in order to maintain them ina substantially horizontal position (assuming' the barrel of the {irearm to be in a similar position) a spring 37 -is secured at one end to the arm 31 .and at the opposite end bears aga-inst the carrier at one side of the pivotal connection thereof with the arm. At the top of the chamber and immediately below'thc rack on the boltis a pair of plates 38, similar `Vin width and disposition to the aforesaid plates 30 30. They are v*curved on their under surfaces toicause the cartridges, which 1 come in contact with them alternately first on one side and then on the other under the force of the spring 33, to slide toward the axial vertical plane of the barrel and assume a position in which the flanged end or base of the cartridge projects upward in the space between the plates.y a This is the position taken by the cartridge, (marked X in Fig. 4.) The uppermost cartridge of the number within the magazine is permitted to take'such' position immediately upon the withdrawal of the bolt responsive to the recoil of the exploded cartridge within the barrel, and it is caused to do so by virtue of the force of the spring 33. When the bolt thereupon moves forward under the force of its actuatingspring, the forward ,end of the bolt contact-l IIO 'venosa the forward movement of the bolt causes the cartridge to rise and move forward simultaneously until when the bolt shall have' taken -its farthest forward position the cartridge From this position it is withdrawn inthe act of firing to release the lhead 1 6 and free the tiring-pin, which is thereupon thrown forward by itsactuating-spring 14 and its ring end `caused to strike and explode the cartridge.

The usual trigger for releasing the sear is designated by 440, the same being located in an opening in the trame, which latter'extends entirely around such opening and constitutes the trigger-guard. The normal' position of the sear corresponding to the forward position voft' the' trigger and in which the seat` projects across the path of the head 16 (the head so en# gaged by thesear being shown in-dotted outline in Fig. {i} is assured by recap-spring 41, which presses against a lever 42, fulcrumed intermediate itsl ends, as by a pin 49@ One end of this lever is pivoted by a pin 43 to the sear, while the opposite end of the lever is adapted to cooperate withl a toothed wheel 53,

whose pivotal axis coincides with the axis of vthe fulcrumed spring-pressed trigger-lever.

The backward movement of the trigger upon being pressed by the iinger serves to shift the toethed wheel forward a step through the medium z f a paw! 4A, mounted on the triggerlex er and pressed by a spring 45 into engagement with the teeth of the wheel. In the positionof the lever 42 in which the end coperativle with the toothed .wheel 53 is seated in the space between contiguous teeth the rearward end oi the lever is elevated to its highest position under theaction of the scar-spring 41, this position of the parts corresponding to the cocked position oi themechanism. When, however, the trigger is pulled backward, the aforesaid end ot the cooperative lever e2 riding up upon the tooth immediately at the rear.

depressesthe rearward end of the lever 42 and releases the tiring-pin, which thereupon res the cartridge in the barrel.

v In order to maintain the parte in such cocked position and lock thetrigger tiring movement, Iha've proa.' vided an adjustable locking device in the`na-' ture of a cross-pin 4:` Journaledin the framev 4ard having a portion 4:7 of relatively less. ra-

'dius than the portion a8., `Zifhis lockingpin extericrly of the trame is provided with a tin.- ger-piece 9, enabling the pin to be turned to bring the portion d8 under the lever a2. The

latter is then incapable of permitting its said cooperative end to-'be shifted from one tooth 'to the other of the toothed wheel 53. When,

however, the pin vis shifted to bring thereduced portion 4:7 thereof under the lever 42,

the latter is free to swing upon its support under the-action of the rotated wheel 453.

The extractor for insuring the withdrawal 'of the cartridge-shell from the barrel of the firearm as the bolt recedes from its forward positionV is designated by 7 5, the same being secured lto ythe bolt in such a position as to permit' its free end to, spring over and 'en-y gage' with the flanged endor base of the ear.V tridgeshell, and thuaenable it tol pull the shellbackward with it. .Preferably .means will vbe provided for closing that opening y through which theemptied vshell is ejected at such times as the cartridge is fired, although leaving an opening clear for the passage outward from the firearm of the, shell when the latter is withdrawn from the barrel by the recedingibolt.` for accomplishing the alternatirg closing and- 'opening' of -this space immediately forward ofl Means disclosed in the drawings I the withdrawn bolt consists of a closure or vthe bolt is in its posi-tion farthest forward,

in operation the vlever l? is first released bywithdrawing the spring-pressed pin 27, when it may be rotated counter-clockwise'to with draw the bolt from the end of the barrel and shift the closure-plate 50 backward to expose the opening into the magazine-chamber. Cartridges may then be fed. thereinto from a clip or votherwise onto the plate 34C, which is gradually yforced downward against the. tension of the spring 33 .as the cartridges are pressed4 into the magazine. When such chamber isI`- charged to a suiticient extent, the pin l27 is again withdrawn from the temporary holdingrecess 28 and the bolt permitted to move`i`or ward, which movement isaccompanied by the entrance of the uppermost cartridge into the barrel. The bolt having-reached its position farthest forward, the movement of the leverarm 17 may be continued through a further angle to bring vits spring-pressed pin over the permanent locking-recess 428', thus freeing the lugs 24 and 25 and permittingthe pinion 19 to rotate freely as it reciprocates under the action ofthe ex ploding cartridges andthe actuating-spring of the bolt.v Assuming that the 'adjustable locking-'pin 426 is in a position to free the lever-a2, whose rearwardendl is heldroo IIO

in an elevated position by the 'sear-springfelto intercept/the collar or head 16 on the tiringpin, the firearm 1s now ready. for operation.

Upon' pulling'the trigger 4:0 the sear isde-Y pressed, as wiil be readilyv understood from the jforegoingdescription, and the firing-pin springing forward under the action of vits spring 1l fires the cartridge. When this latter action has occurred, it is not coriternplated, however, that the collar lon the firing-pin shall have contacted with the bottom ot' the example, indicated by dotted outline'Y in Fig. .4. This action, in conjunction with the pressure on the shell exerted by the upwardlytending cartridge immediately beneath, serves to dip the shell upward and eject it. taneously with this ejection of the emptied shell the next cartridge is caused to protrude into 1he path of the bolt, which latter upon its forward movement pushes the cartridge-- into 'the barrel in the manner already-ex plained. i

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. In a firearm, the combination with a reciprocative breech-bolt provided with a rack, of a spring for automatically returning the bolt when thrown back by the'disch'arge of the cartridge, a pinion meshing with the rack on the breech-bolt and free to run idly during the automatic reciprocation of the bolt. a leverarm for rotating the pinion and thereby drawing back the bolt against the pressure of the spring, a lug fixed relatively to said pinion,

A and a lug adapted to engage with the pinionlug, and which is fixed relatively to said arm.

2. ina firearm, the combination with a reciprocative breech-bolt provided with a rack, of a spring for automatically returning the bolt when thrown back by the discharge oi' the cartridge, a pinion meshing with the'rack on the breech-bolt, a lever-arm for rotating the pinion and thereby drawing back the bolt against the pressure of the spring, a clutch for connecting the lever with and disconnecting it from the pinion, a lug fixed relatively to said pinion, and a lug adapted to 'engage with the pinion-lug, and which is fixed relatively to said arm. 4

3. ln a firearm, the combination with a reciprocative breech-bolt provided with a rack, of a springi'or automatically returning the bolt when thrown back by the discharge ot' the cartridge, 'a pinion meshing with the rack on the breech-bolt, a lever-arm for rotating the pinion and thereby drawing back the bolt against the pressure of the spring, a clutch for connecting the lever with and disconnecting it from the pinion, a relcasable detent iorhold- Simuling the lever, alug fixed relatively to said pinion, and a lug adapted to engage with the pinion-lug, and which islixed relatively to said arm.

4. In a iirearrn, the combination of' a reciprocativc bolt provided with a rack, a pinion en gaging with the rack, a lever-arm for rotating the pinion, a lug fixed relatively to said pinion, and a lug adapted to engage with the pinion-lug and which is iixed relatively to said manually-operated lever-arm.

5. In a firearm, the combination of a frame,

a reciygirocativel bolt provided with a rack, a

pinion engaging with the rack, a lever-arm mounted exteriorly of the frame, for rotating the pinion, a lug iixed relatively to said pinion, alug adapted to coperate with the pinion-lug and which is fixed relatively to said lever-arm, and la spring-pressed locking-pin mounted on said 'lever-arm and adapted to be seated in a locking-recess in said frame. r

,6m-'1n a firearm, the combination with 'a frame of a reciprocative bolt provided with a rack, an actuating-spring therefor, a stop for determining the extreme rearward position of thebolt, and a 'rack and pinion for manually retracting the bolt.

7'. In a firearm, the combination of a reciprocative bolt provided with a rack, a restoring-spring therefor,a stop for determining the extreme rearward position of the bolt,a pinion engaging with the rack, a lever-arm for rotating the pinion, a lug tixed relatively to said pinion, and a lug adapted to engage with the pinion-lug and which'isfixed relatively to said lever-arm. i

8. YIn a firearm, the'combination of a reciprocative bolt provided with a rack, a pinion engaging with the rack, a lever-arm for rotating-ghe' pinion, a lug fixed relatively to said pinion," a lug adapted to engage with the pinion-lug and which is fixed relatively to said lever-arm, a stop for determining the extreme rearward position of the bolt, a restoringspring for the bolt interposed between the bottom of' a recess in said bolt and said stop, l

a firing-pin provided with a shoulder and slid- IOO.

ably mounted in the 4bolt and in the stop, and

an actuating-spring for the firing-pin interposed between said shoulder and said stop.

9. In a firearm, the combination of a frame, a reciprocative bolt provided with a rack. a pinion engaging with'the rack, a lever-arm mounted exteriorly of the frame for rotating the pinion, a lug tixed relatively to said pinion, a lug adapted to coperate with thepinion-lugI and which is fixed relatively to said leverarm,a si'iring-pressed locking-.pin mounted on said lever-arm and adapted to be seated in a locking-recess in said frame, a stop for determining the extreme rearward position of the bolta restoring-spring Jfor the bolt interposed between the bottom of a recess in the bolt and said stop,`a tiring-pin provided with a shoulder and which is slidably mounted in IIS the bolt and in the stop, and an actuating?.

spring for the firing-pin interposed between said shoulder and said stop. l

10. -In a firearm, the combination of a reeiprooative bolt provided with a raak, -a rester-j pinion, a lug adapted to engage with therein-Vv ion-lug and which is fixed relatively to said lever-arm, a Sear, and a rotative pin -aclj ustable from tlieexterior of the frame for looking the Sear at Will against action. l

11. Irl a firearm, the combination of areoipi roeative bolt provided withV sjaak, a Vpinion engaging with the rack, a lever-arm for rotating the pinion, a lug xed relatively to said; pinion, a lug adapted to `engagewitli the pinfl ion-lug and which is' iixed relatively to said lever-arm, a stop for determining the extreme rearward'position of the loolt,r a restoringspring for the bolt'interposed between the "bottom of areoess in said bolt and said stop, va iiringfpin provided with 'a' shoulder and which is'sidably mounted inthe bolt and in "tft/ie stop, an actuating-spring Jfor the firingpin interposed between said shoulder and said lstonasear, and a rotative pin adjustable from fthe exterior of the .frame for locking the ksear at' :will .against action.

.Signed'atNos- 9 to l5 Muryay street, New vl/fork, N. Y., this 12th day of January, 1903.

BETHEL BURTON.

Witnessesz "FRED, d". DOLE,

AJOHN O. SEIFERT. 

